Israel sharply increased strikes on the Gaza Strip, pounding the length of the Palestinian enclave and killing hundreds in a new, expanded phase of the war that Washington said veered from Israeli promises to do more to protect civilians.
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Minister of Defense Yoav Galant conducted a visit Friday to the Gaza Strip border, where he met with fighters from the Caracal Battalion and the Armored Corps. During the meeting, they all lit the second candle of Hanukkah, and he also told them: "You see signs indicating Hamas is at a breaking point; you have crucial roles in this matter."
Video: Hamas' camera exposes their use of civilian homes / x@idf
He added, "The spirit of the IDF is that after you hear shots, see the flashes, and assess the situation, you ultimately move forward. This determination eventually leads you to a place where you find the problem. We light up Gaza, and we extinguish the light of those who wish us harm. Whoever thinks they can extinguish our lights sees day after day what the results are. In the State of Israel, there is light, and in Gaza, there is darkness – it will intensify."
On Friday, the IDF revealed that on Thursday night, two soldiers were seriously wounded in an operation in the southern Gaza Strip that aimed to rescue hostages, following actionable intelligence that was received. The operation concluded without hostages being found.
